Sarina in battle to keep RSL

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THE Sarina RSL Branch has initiated legal action against the Queensland State Branch in a battle to regain full ownership of the club's premises.

The State Branch took a 51% share in the ownership of the club in 2010 after the Sarina Club board requested help in the face of high debt levels.

Now, the State Branch has demanded the Sarina Club pay $315,000 by October 18 to buy back its premises.

If the club fails to pay up, it will be forced to pay a much higher price or risk losing its premises.

Sarina Branch president Wayne Davis said since the State Branch took control in 2010, it had attempted to run the club into the ground.

"You wouldn't want to share a trench with them," Mr Davis said.

He said he believed the State Branch was attempting to take control of regional clubs throughout Queensland so it could eventually sell them off to third parties.

"They've got a pattern of going in to help the RSL clubs, getting a foothold, getting a percentage of the land and buildings and then changing the rules and running the clubs down," he said.

"And then trying to sell the land and assets."

Mr Davis said while other clubs might not be able to, the Sarina Club would be putting up a fight.

"The Second World War or Vietnam veterans running the other clubs are all in their late sixties to early eighties and they're too tired to fight and the State Branch has exploited that," he said.

"Luckily we've got younger members in our committee that want to fight and make a stand."

Queensland RSL State Branch chairman Terry Meehan said he was unable to comment on the matter other than to say the organisation was awaiting legal advice and would be discussing it at the board meeting next week.

In 2006, the Mackay RSL Club closed its doors after 52 years due to a lack of veterans and volunteers.

Legal proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia are expected to begin some time next week.